Category: Sri Chinmoy Centre Activity

#194. The Remarkable Abhejali Bernardova

Posted on by Yatkara

An interview with the remarkable Abhejali Bernardova recorded on 18th March 2021.

Abhejali is a Record Holder, Champion Athlete and the 4th Woman in history to complete the Oceans Seven Abhejali Bernardová, an athlete from the Czech Republic, has competed at the highest level in Ultra Running and Long Distance Swimming both with resounding success. In her early twenties she started competing in ultra races and in the year 2000 she beame the Czech Champion for the 100km and the 24 Hour Race. She also competed in the Self-Transcendence 6-Day Race in New York, achieving second place.

In the following years she took up long-distance swimming. She first conquered the English Channel, then completed the Triple Crown, the English channel Catalina Channel and Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, and then went on to do what only three other women before her have ever done. She conquered the Oceans Seven.

In this interview Abhejali shares her personal experience of facing one daunting challenge after the next; what drives her to continue and what it takes to achieve something that so few women in history have ever achieved.

Being a positive, highly motivated, mentally focused athlete, Abhejali has learnt several techniques that challenge her own limitations. Whether they come from the mind or the body she continues to strive ahead, pushing her boundaries with a ‘never give up’ spirit. Sharing her different experiences with both training and racing and how she coped with the ups and downs, this interview offers real inspiration to anyone who is taking on a challenge.

#184. The Garden of Light 20th Anniversary

Posted on by Yatkara

We celebrated The Garden of Light’s 20th anniversary November 21st 2019, in our new location at 1111 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. We were delighted to host so many of you from the community and share music, inspiration, chai tea, essential oil blends and great conversation! We look forward to welcoming you all back soon to our special paradise: The Garden of Light. Slideshow and photography by Prabhakar https://www.pjtstreet.com/

#183. Interview: Utsahi’s meditation experience (Ottawa – March 21, 2020)

Posted on by Yatkara

Utsahi St-Amand mentions his first meditation moments when he had just turned 40 (Moncton, New-Brunswick), his appreciation for the Halifax Centre, where he belonged until coming to Ottawa in 1990, his first encounter with Sri Chinmoy, then his many subsequent visits to New York. Throughout this interview, he relates how his experiences with Sri Chinmoy changed him, in his Master’s words, from a professor to “a student of the heart”. He also shares the double experience of the physical presence of the Master, both in Ottawa and New York, and then the after October 2007: the new presence of his Master. He adds some comments about The Garden of Light, which he owns and the meditation classes, which he offers with Prabhakar. He describes the period we are going through as follows: «Times of uncertainty are times of opportunity”.